July 9, 2012

Last week in Indiana, the Daniels administration announced that the state's budget reserves had topped $2 billion, enough to trigger $100 rebates for individual tax filers and $200 for couples who file jointly. In total, the state will give back about $300 million to taxpayers....

Meanwhile, in Illinois...

Last year, Illinois lawmakers scrambled to close a budget shortfall estimated at $11 billion. Despite substantial tax increases and deep cuts in services, the state ended the 2012 fiscal year, which closed June 30, with a shortfall of more than $8 billion. In fact, Illinois' auditor general recently released a report describing the state's deficit as the nation's worst based on the percentage of revenue.

I'm observing this from the next state over, Wisconsin, where we've been fighting over which of these 2 states we'd prefer to resemble.

Overpayments are a rampant problem in the unemployment insurance system. The federal government and states overpaid an estimated $14 billion in benefits in fiscal 2011, or roughly 11% of all the jobless benefits paid out, according to reports from the U.S. Labor Department.

Of the states, Indiana was the worst offender, making more improper payments than it did correct ones.

Most of the west bank (West Side) of the Wabash River is in Indiana, not Illinois. Obviously, you didn't consult your resident authority on Hoosier geography before this post. If you don't have a map, you can check his hat.

I keep expecting Illinois to put up a wall to keep "facist bandits and their provocateurs from destroying the Socialist Republic of Illinois" But then again that would require effort and an ability to organize construction. Something you just don't see in the blue states these days.

"... which closed June 30, with a shortfall of more than $8 billion. In fact, Illinois' auditor general recently released a report describing the state's deficit as the nation's worst based on the percentage of revenue."

Keep on voting Democrat, people.

Insolvency is overrated as a fear tactic.

So too is cannibalizing the tax base, and strangling businesses with excessive regulations.

The Democrats bankrupted Illinois. They created more spending for no reason. They raised our income taxes for no reason. They did not cut spending. Governor Quinn is just another Democratic Machine hack.

Never overestimate the intelligence of an electorate that was willing to elect a Choom in the first place. An electorate that was willing to believe Choom over their lying eyes four years ago is quite capable of doing so again.

Garage,If you just let your mind take over, you could learn from all the mistakes of history and become a wingnut - that's how most get there. Then you would feel great about the news and everything you learn, instead of crappy. Besides that, you would get the deep respect of people here. Most satisfying is that you would be right for a change. Imagine how wonderful and new that would feel.

You know you don't really want Obama to win. It will just further prove the foolishness of leftist ideas. If Romney wins, it's unlikely he can reverse the damage fast enough to fix anything, so even as a leftist, you would still win. An Obama win is bad for everyone, especially the left, and Dems.

Thinking of maybe even buying some farmland there... for when the collapse comes and you need to grow your own crops and defend yourself with force against socialist authoritarian Leftist and confiscatory authoritarian Rightists.

Also impressed with Indiana's recent right to defend yourself against the illegal actions of the police bill. Especially since the so-called "police" will shortly be the brown-shirt army of the aforementioned Leftists and Rightists...

New York's unemployment is below the early 2010 peak. Unemployment there is up from last year, but this pattern is unique to New York, and is not something you could reasonable generalize to states with Dem. Governors. The only other state with a similar pattern would be Louisiana (sort of). But don't take my word for it, you can see for yourself in Google's Public Data viewer. Maybe you can find something more convincing.

Daniels wisely realized that American Republicans select their candidate in an Americal Idol style, not with mindful regard of demonstrated principles and performance. Knowing he never had a chance in such an environment, Daniels wisely decided not to run.

Those who vote for Romney are just supporting this system. He's the American Idol candidate. Vote for Romney and you are endorsing the mainstream media and social-engineering and this whole fucking corrupt process...

"Those who vote for Romney are just supporting this system. He's the American Idol candidate. Vote for Romney and you are endorsing the mainstream media and social-engineering and this whole fucking corrupt process..."

As if, for even a moment, the alternative wasn't at least $1 trillion per year worse.

" Knowing he never had a chance in such an environment, Daniels wisely decided not to run."

Daniels had a unique problem with becoming a candidate. His wife had left him for another man and abandoned their children. She later returned to him and they have remarried. The whole story speaks to his virtues and stability but I don't blame him for avoiding the Obama publicity machine which has been sabotaging GOP buses and which would no more respect his privacy than run the country competently.

"I'm observing this from the next state over, Wisconsin, where we've been fighting over which of these 2 states we'd prefer to resemble."

Depends on whether Wisconsinites are selfish greedy Republicans who won't share their ill gotten gains with the children, or generous Democrats who love to spend other people's money to incarcerate, I mean educate, other people's children in failing public schools.

I grew up in Illinois and its fiscal mismanagement dates back almost 40 years during which it had several long serving big spending Republican governors so both Republicans and Democrats as well as the complacent citizens are to blame for letting it get to this point. The sad part is Illinois is a wealthy state but its politicians didn't have the courage to raise taxes to offset their spending. Just as with the federal government, forty years of borrowing created this mess.